Removal of Pharmaceuticals from Water: Conventional and Alternative Treatments

Pharmaceuticals represent an especially worrying class of micropollutants because they are biologically active. Thus, their occurrence in aquatic environments may cause undesirable effects in living organisms and, if present in water sources for human consumption, may constitute a public health issue. However, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which have not been designed for the removal of pharmaceuticals and cannot guarantee their full elimination, are considered hotspots for their dissemination in natural waters. In this context, the Special Issue (SI) entitled “Removal of Pharmaceuticals from Water: Conventional and Alternative Treatments” was launched to contribute to the assessment of the contemporary challenges and advances in the removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater. Papers published in the SI, which have been compiled in this book, approached the topic with either of the following different perspectives: (i) the fate and removal of pharmaceuticals by conventional treatments applied in existing WWTPs; or (ii) advanced and alternative green approaches to remove pharmaceuticals from water. Apart from the Editorial, papers published within this SI include two literature reviews and six experimental studies, all of them presenting unconventional approaches, original views, innovative research and/or novel methodologies. This compilation will definitely spark the attention of readers intrigued in the topic, and is useful for researchers in the field

Removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewaters by electrooxidation

The removal of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (DCF) was carried out by electrooxidation on Dimensionally Stable Anodes (DSA) with the composition Ti/Ruo.3Tio.70 2. The DSA electrodes were obtained by thermal decomposition of the appropriate precursors. The electrolyses were carried by using solutions of 100 mg/L DCF in 0.1 M Na2S0 4 supporting electrolyte in acidic medium at various current densities and electrolysis times. The removal of DCF was assessed by recording UV-VIS spectra and chemical oxygen demand (COD) determination of the electrolysed solutions. The results showed the mineralization of the DCF during the electrooxidation on Ti/RuojTiojCb electrodes

A review on removal of pharmaceuticals from water by adsorption

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are recognized as emerging pollutants in water resources. Various treatment options have been investigated for the removal of pharmaceuticals that include both conventional (e.g., biodegradation, adsorption, activated sludge) and advanced (e.g., membrane, microfiltration, ozonation) processes. This article reviews literature for adsorptive removal of pharmaceuticals from water sources. Adsorbents from various origins were reviewed for their capacity to remove pharmaceuticals from water. These adsorbents include carbonaceous materials, clay minerals, siliceous adsorbents, and polymeric materials. The adsorption capacity of adsorbents to adsorb pharmaceuticals from water is discussed in this study. The review discusses the mechanism for adsorption of pharmaceuticals onto adsorbents as well. Finally, effectiveness of processing parameters during adsorption processes is presented

Removal of Pharmaceuticals in Conventional Wastewater Treatment Plants

Over the latest years, the occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in the environment has attracted great interest, in particular in regard to the possible harmful effects of many of these pollutants to living organisms. One of the main sources of pharmaceuticals in the environment is the discharge of effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), where their removal is often incomplete. The widespread use of pharmaceuticals and their generally inefficient removal by most WWTPs are the main reasons for their frequent detection in many water quality monitoring studies. In fact, most WWTPs are inefficient for the removal of micropollutants in general (especially hardly biodegradable organic xenobiotics) as these conventional systems were mainly designed for removing bulk pollutants. It would therefore be valuable to determine if WWTPs could be cost-effectively modified/expanded to reduce pharmaceutical discharges. Recent research has been dedicated to evaluate the application of several advanced treatment technologies, such as advanced oxidation processes, adsorption processes and membrane processes, either for the removal of organic micropollutants in general or specifically for the removal of pharmaceutical residues. However, despite the sometimes high removal efficiencies attained, these technologies are in most cases too expensive to be considered as viable solutions on a large scale. Moreover, some of these treatments may originate some transformation products that are potentially more persistent or toxic than the parent compounds. Therefore, this field of research remains very active as the search for cost-effective treatment processes continues to be pursued. In this work we intend to present a review on the fate and the removal efficiencies of pharmaceuticals in conventional WWTPs, describe the main mechanisms involved in pharmaceuticals removal in WWTPs processes, as well as a discussion of the major factors influencing that removal. In addition, we present some of the research work that has been carried out over the latest years in attempting to improve the removals of these pollutants in WWTPs. Thereafter, we describe some of the main alternative processes that are suggested by that research that can be used to complement conventional WWTPs and attain more efficient treatment of wastewaters in regard to contamination with pharmaceuticals

Removal of pharmaceuticals in WWTP effluents by ozone and hydrogen peroxide

Ozonation to achieve removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater effluents, with pH values in the upper and lower regions of the typical range for Swedish wastewater, was investigated. The main aim was to study the effects of varying pH values (6.0 and 8.0), and if small additions of H2O2 prior to ozone treatment could improve the removal and lower the reaction time. The effluents studied differed in their chemical characteristics, particularly in terms of alkalinity (65.3-427 mg center dot l(-1) HCO3-), COD (18.2-41.8 mg center dot l(-1)), DOC (6.9-12.5 mg center dot l(-1)), ammonium content (0.02-3.6 mg center dot l(-1)) and specific UV absorbance (1.78-2.76 l center dot mg(-1)center dot m(-1)). As expected, lower ozone decomposition rates were observed in the effluents at pH 6.0 compared to pH 8.0. When pH 8.0 effluents were ozonated, a higher degree of pharmaceutical removal occurred in the effluent with low specific UV absorbance. For pH 6.0 effluents, the removal of pharmaceuticals was most efficient in the effluent with the lowest organic content. The addition of H2O2 had no significant effect on the quantitative removal of pharmaceuticals but enhanced the ozone decomposition rate. Thus, H2O2 addition increased the reaction rate. In practice, this will mean that the reactor volume needed for the ozonation of wastewater effluents can be reduced

Removal of emerging pollutants in conventional and microalgae based biotechnology urban wastewater treatment plants

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) reduce portion of the input of pharmaceuticals in aquatic systems, but there is no data available about the elimination of emerging contaminants with microalgae technology. The aim of this work was to determine the average mass flows and concentrations of pharmaceuticals in influents and effluents from two sewages treatment plants using conventional and microalgae based biotechnologies and to compare the removal of pharmaceuticals using both depuration technologies. Only between 20 to 60% of five pharmaceuticals groups is reduce in both WWTP using conventional technologies consisting of a pretreatment, primary settling and secondary treatment by aerobic biological reactor. Using microalgae based biotechnologies efficiency of removal pharmaceuticals is higher than conventional technologies and it increase by using DAF (Dissolve Air Flotation) technology to separate algae biomass

Advanced Oxidation Processes II: Removal of Pharmaceuticals by Photocatalysis

In this chapter, basic concepts of advanced oxidation processes (AOP) are cited, such as photolysis, photocatalysis, and semiconductors used as photocatalysts. This is important since the wastewater pollution with drugs, coming from domestic use, hospitals, and industry is not only an environmental problem but social too. Pharmaceutical case study is shown to exemplify the photocatalytic degradation of different drugs contained in wastewater taken directly from some currents in the pharmaceutical industry, such as diclofenac, acetaminophen, naproxen, and ibuprofen, using modified TiO2 catalysts with different tin contents.CONACy

Fate of drugs during wastewater treatment

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2013 Elsevier B.V.Recent trends in the determination of pharmaceutical drugs in wastewaters focus on the development of rapid multi-residue methods. This review addresses recent analytical trends in drug determination in environmental matrices used to facilitate fate studies. Analytical requirements for further fate evaluation and tertiary process selection and optimization are also discussed.EPSRC, Northumbrian Water, Anglian Water, Severn Trent Water, Yorkshire Water, and United Utilities

Grafted Sepiolites for the Removal of Pharmaceuticals in Water Treatment

The increased detection of pharmaceuticals in finished drinking water has become a growing cause of concern in recent years. The removal of atenolol, ranitidine, and carbamazepine by sepiolite, following functionalization of its surface by organosilane grafting, constituted the subject of this investigation. Silylated surfaces include octyl, γ-aminopropyl, 3-chloropropyl, and triphenyl moieties. The sorption of atenolol and ranitidine was higher on sepiolite functionalized with 3-chloropropyl, while carbamazepine showed a higher sorption on sepiolite with triphenyl groups. Filtration experiments of both ranitidine and carbamazepine on octyl- and triphenyl-sepiolite, respectively, showed a higher retention of ranitidine in comparison to carbamazepine, in spite of the fact that the number of sorption sites was lower due to its higher binding rate.Ministerio de Educación y Cultura CTM2013-42306-R, CTM2016-77168-

Removal of pharmaceuticals from WWTP streams by biological and physical processes

Les actuals activitats humanes han comportat la contaminació del medi ambient, la qual cosa ha esdevingut una amenaça global. En concret, l'ineficient eliminació de productes d'ús diari a les plantes de tractament d'aigües residuals (EDARs) es una font de contaminació en si mateixa; especialment quan els llots no tractats i l'aigua resultant són valoritzats en activitats agrícoles. En el present treball s'han desenvolupat dues tècniques de bioremediació amb Trametes versicolor per tal de tractar diferents llots. A més a més, s'ha proposat i estudiat un post-tractament físic per tal d'incrementar la qualitat de l'efluent final d'una EDAR. En tots dos casos, l'eliminació de fàrmacs en cada corrent ha estat avaluada. En la primera secció, es va estudiar l'ús de Trametes versicolor en biopiles a escala de laboratori per tractar llots d'EDAR secs; tot avaluant la seva capacitat per eliminar fàrmacs i l'evolució de les comunitats microbianes. ·Es va escollir un substrat lignocel·lulosic per les biopiles inoculades amb el fong en base a la revisió de dades experimentals publicades i no publicades. ·Es va avaluar l'eliminació total de fàrmacs a concentració real en llots de depuradora tractats en biopiles inoculades i no inoculades amb el fong, provant si la re-inoculació de les biopiles milloraria l'eliminació final. ·L'estudi de les comunitats bacterianes i fúngiques de les biopiles inoculades i no inoculades amb el fong va mostrar que totes dues comunitats van acabar evolucionant cap a poblacions similars. En la segona secció, es va avaluar el creixement i la capacitat per eliminar fàrmacs de Trametes versicolor en llots provinents d'un reactor biològic de membrana (MBR) en sistemes de bioslurry. ·Es va avaluar la capacitat del fong per eliminar compostos en medis líquids dopats, provant diferents medis de cultiu i condicions. ·Es va avaluar l'eliminació d'un gran ventall de fàrmacs per part del fong en bioslurries no estèrils i no dopats. Les anàlisis microbiològics van demostrar un increment de la diversitat microbiana després de 15 dies de tractament. ·Es va incrementar l'escala dels bioslurries de Erlenmeyer a reactor de 5L i el seu corrent de sortida es va digerir anaeròbicament, per tal de comprovar si el tractament amb el fong podia ser re-valoritzat. ·Els resultats finals mostren que Trametes versicolor pot eliminar PPCPs en bioslurry en condicions no esterils. En la tercera secció, es va avaluar l'eliminació de fàrmacs en aigua sintètica mitjançant l'esmena de sòls amb adsorbents de baix cost, per tal de determinar si era posible millorar la qualitat de l'efluent d'una EDAR. ·Es va determinar la capacitat d'adsorció del sòl sense esmenar amb experiments en discontinu de 24h per tal de determinar els coeficients de distribució dels fàrmacs seleccionats. ·Per tal de determinar quina proporció d'esmena seria la mes adequada, es va estudiar l'adsorció en 24h de 3 compostos amb un coeficient octanol/aigua similar en experiments en discontinu. ·Es va mesurar el percentatge d'eliminació de cadascun dels fàrmacs provats per cada esmena de baix cost (biochar i NUA) utilitzada. Els resultats van mostrar alts percentatges d'eliminació per tots els fàrmacs, demostrant l'eficàcia dels adsorbents de baix cost com a esmenes de sòl. Els experiments de les dues primeres seccions es va realitzar al grup d'investigació BioremUAB (Grup de Biodegradació de Contaminants Industrials i Valorització de Residus) del departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). L'objectiu d'aquest grup es el desenvolupament de nous processos biològics pel tractament de contaminants emergents en diferents matrius. Els experiments de l'última secció es van desenvolupar al centre Land & Water del CSIRO. L'objectiu d'aquest centre és el de proporcionar solucions innovadores als complexos desafiaments que sorgeixen de les activitats humanes sobre el medi ambient.Las actuales actividades humanas han conllevado a la contaminación del medio ambiente, lo que se ha convertido en una amenaza global. En concreto, la ineficiente eliminación de productos de uso diario en las plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales (EDARs) es una fuente de contaminación en sí misma; especialmente cuando los lodos no tratados y el agua resultante son valorizados en actividades agrícolas. En el presente trabajo se han desarrollado dos técnicas de biorremediación con Trametes versicolor para tratar diferentes lodos. Además, se ha propuesto y estudiado un post-tratamiento físico para incrementar la calidad del efluente final de una EDAR. En ambos casos, se ha evaluado la eliminación de fármacos en cada corriente. En la primera sección, se estudió el uso de Trametes versicolor en biopilas a escala de laboratorio para tratar lodos de una EDAR secos; evaluando su capacidad para eliminar fármacos y la evolución de las comunidades microbianas. • Se escogió un sustrato lignocelulósico para las biopilas inoculadas con el hongo en base a datos experimentales publicados y no publicados. • Se evaluó la eliminación total de fármacos a concentración real en lodos de depuradora tratados en biopilas inoculadas y no inoculadas con el hongo, probando si la re-inoculación de las biopilas mejoraría la eliminación final. • El estudio de las comunidades bacterianas y fúngicas de las biopilas inoculadas y no inoculadas con el hongo mostraron que ambas comunidades acabaron evolucionando hacia poblaciones similares. En la segunda sección, se evaluó el crecimiento y la capacidad para eliminar fármacos por parte de Trametes versicolor en lodos provenientes de un reactor biologico de membrana (MBR) en sistemas de bioslurry. • Se evaluó la capacidad del hongo para eliminar compuestos en medios líquidos dopados, probando diferentes medios de cultivo y condiciones. • Se evaluó la eliminación de un amplio número de fármacos por parte del hongo en bioslurries no estériles y no dopados. Los análisis microbiológicos demostraron un incremento de la diversidad microbiana después de 15 días. • Se incrementó la escala de los bioslurries: de Erlenmeyer a reactor de 5L; y su corriente de salida se digerió anaeróbicamente, a fin de comprobar si el tratamiento con el hongo podía ser re-valorizado. • Los resultados finales muestran que Trametes versicolor puede eliminar fármacos en bioslurry en condiciones no estériles. En la tercera sección, se evaluó la eliminación de fármacos en agua sintética mediante la enmienda de suelos con adsorbentes de bajo coste, con el objetivo de determinar si era posible mejorar la calidad de un efluente de EDAR. • Se determinó la capacidad de adsorción del suelo sin enmendar con experimentos en discontinuo de 24h para determinar los coeficientes de distribución de los fármacos seleccionados. • Para determinar qué proporción de enmienda sería la más adecuada, se estudió la adsorción en 24h en experimentos en discontinuo de 3 compuestos con un coeficiente octanol / agua similar. • Se midió el porcentaje de eliminación de cada uno de los fármacos probados por cada enmienda de bajo coste (biochar y NUA) utilizada. Los resultados indicaron altos porcentajes de eliminación para todos los fármacos, demostrando la eficacia de los adsorbentes de bajo coste como enmiendas. Los experimentos de las dos primeras secciones se realizó en el grupo de investigación BioremUAB (Grupo de Biodegradación de Contaminantes Industriales y Valorización de Residuos) del departamento de Ingeniería Química, Biológica y Ambiental de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). El objetivo de este grupo es el desarrollo de nuevos procesos biológicos para el tratamiento de contaminantes emergentes en diferentes matrices. Los experimentos de la última sección se desarrollaron en el centro Land & Water del CSIRO. El objetivo de este centro es el de proporcionar soluciones innovadoras a los complejos desafíos que surgen de las actividades humanas sobre el medio ambiente.Current human activities have led to the pollution of the environment, which has aroused as a global threat. In particular, the inefficient treatment of every-day products in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is an important source of contaminants; especially when untreated sewage sludge and reclaimed water are valorised for agricultural porpoises. The present work describes the development of two bioremediation processes mediated with Trametes versicolor in order to treat different types of sludge. Additionally, one physical post-treatment has been proposed and studied so as to improve the final quality of a WWTP effluent. In both cases, the removal of pharmaceuticals (PhACs) in each stream has been assessed. In the first section, the use of Trametes versicolor in biopiles at lab scale with dried sewage sludge from the WWTP of El Prat de Llobregat was studied, evaluating its capacity to remove Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) and assessing the evolution of the biopiles microbial communities. • Appropriate lignocellulosic substrate for fungal biopiles was selected according to the review of published and unpublished experimental data. • Total removal of drugs at real concentrations from sewage sludge was assessed for non-inoculated and fungal inoculated biopiles, testing if the re-inoculation of the biopiles would improve the removal yields. • The study of the bacterial and fungal communities revealed that fungal inoculated and non-inoculated biopiles evolved to similar communities. In the second section, the growth of Trametes versicolor on Membrane Biological Reactor (MBR) sludge in bioslurry systems was assessed, and its capacity to remove PPCPs was evaluated. • The ability of the fungus to remove a spiked compound in liquid medium cultures was assessed, testing different media and conditions for the bioslurry. • In non-spiked Erlenmeyer fungal bioslurries under non-sterile conditions, the removal of a wide set of PhACs was assessed and microbial analysis were performed, showing that microbial diversity increased after 15 days of treatment. • The fungal bioslurry treatment scale was improved to reactor scale and coupled to an anaerobic digestion process. • Results showed that Trametes versicolor can remove PPCPs in bioslurry systems under non-sterile conditions in matrices as complex as an MBR sludge. In the third section, the efficiency removal of PhACs in synthetic water was assessed in soil amended with low-cost sorbents in order to determine if it was possible to improve the final quality of a WWTP effluent. • The capacity of bare soil to adsorb the PhACs was assessed in 24h batch experiments in order to quantify the distribution coefficient of the drugs. • The adsorption of three drugs with similar octanol/water coefficient at different soil:amendment ratios was assessed and carried out in 24h batch experiments, in order to determine which ratio would be the most suitable. • The removal percentage of each pharmaceutical compound was measured in soil amended with two low-cost sorbents (biochar and NUA) during 21 days. The results showed high removal percentages for all the tested PhACs, proving the efficiency of sorbents to remove emerging pollutants from water by amending the soil. The experiments of the two first sections were performed in the research group BioremUAB (Grup de Biodegradació de Contaminants Industrials i Valorització de Residus) from the Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering in Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). The aim of this group is the development of novel biological techniques to degrade emerging pollutants in different matrices. The experiments of the last section of this thesis were carried out in the centre Land & Water from the CSIRO. The scope of this centre is to deliver innovative solutions to the complex challenges that arise from the demands and impacts of human activities